Summer Sport at the University

Charlotte Werner, deputy director of Mannheim’s Institute of Sports (IFS), knows that as the evenings get longer and warmer, students and university staff will be itching to start doing outdoor sports again.

So Werner and her team are ready at the start of the season: The IFS program is packed with a whole host of summer sports. There are over 80 different sports on the IFS website, and more outdoor courses are added after Easter, explains Werner: “In the area around Mannheim, you can go rowing on the rivers Neckar and Rhine, or ride to the Odenwald with the road cycling group.”

In the Schlossgarten, the tennis courts are now opened. They offer a range of small-group tennis lessons and can also be booked for private use. Looking to really work up a sweat out in the fresh air? At the Alfred Delp Sports Facilities in the Friedrichspark, the IFS program now offers basketball, soccer, and beach volleyball lessons, plus outdoor fitness classes such as Latin Dance, Fit and Fun, and GWO Workout. “GWO Workout is a high-intensity team workout where you only use your own body weight. To participate, you need to bring a gym mat or towel to lie or stand on,” explains Werner.

The IFS team continuously evaluates the program and updates it to meet changing needs and demand. For instance, IFS users can also try out the latest trends such as roundnet or “Gesundheitswandern”—a combination of hiking and mindfulness. Besides the extensive program of courses, the beach volleyball court at the Alfred Delp Sports Facilities is also very popular. Students and university staff can join various organized clubs for training and practice, or book the court for free play.

Text: Jule Leger/May 2023